INSTITUTES AND RESEARCH CENTRES LOCATED AT MONA Year ending July 31, 2006 ADVANCED TRAINING AND RESEARCH IN FERTILITY MANAGEMENT UNIT Professor Joseph Frederick, MBBS, DM (O&G), FRCOG, FACOG Director The Mission of the ATRFMU is to promote, develop and deliver training, research, outreach and clinical services in the areas of Reproductive Health (including family planning) and Health and Family Life Education throughout CARICOM and other countries. The Overall Objectives are to implement and evaluate the effective- ness of Reproductive Health/ Family Planning/Health and Family Life Education programmes in pursuit of the natural development goals of CARICOM and other countries. This academic year the ATRFMU s main thrust went towards planning and organization of a Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health from October 26-28, 2006. This conference under the theme Sexual and Reproductive Health Our Mutual Responsibility is seeking to provide a platform for stakeholders in reproductive health to share, discuss and network so that together we can review our various strategies, celebrate achievements and identify gaps that can be filled. The process will allow for the reinforcement of our 359
confidence and acknowledgement of our creativity in the use of available resources and skills to contribute to the development of healthy families that will facilitate sustainable social and economic development. The range of Conference topics among which are HIV/AIDS, contraception, infertility, adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues, the emerging epidemic of lifestyle diseases are matters that touch the lives of everyone who tenant Planet Earth. Congratulations to nurse Sheron Gordon for successfully completing the operating theatre course. We also welcome Dr. Loxley Christie and Miss Rochelle Foster for joining the Unit as Research Fellow and Junior Research Fellow respectively. TRAINING Edited and produced educational material course manuals for three courses as follows: OG60A- Introduction to Individual Counselling OG60B- Introduction to Group Counselling OG60C- Abnormal Psychology Procured relevant textbooks for the preliminary year of the programme. In consultation with the Office of Finance, reviewed the terms and conditions of the existing tutors contractual arrangements and issued new contracts to these tutors. Conducted site visits to The British Virgin Islands and Antigua and recruited new tutors to serve at these sites which were just coming on stream. Contracted resource persons at each site to serve as Therapy Group Facilitators in order to improve the standard of programme delivery. Two immediate past students from the first programme cycle were included among the therapists. Made special arrangements for students who did not graduate in the first cycle of the programme to have their final research projects supervised externally. Six of these students have since satisfied all programme requirements. Delivered the four preliminary courses (OG60A- Introduction to Individual Counselling, OG60B-Introduction to Group Counselling, 360
OG60C-Abnormal Psychology and OG60D-Developmental Psychology) to applicants who have been accepted to do the Masters in Counselling Programme by Distance Education in nine Caribbean countries (Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, The British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Trinidad). PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT Special consultations The Training team participated in special joint consultations and evaluative meetings with the Director of the ATRFMU, the Pro-Vice Chancellor in charge of Distance Education and the officials from Graduate Studies and Research to explore strategies for improving programme flexibility and efficiency. The main outcomes of these meetings were: The reinstatement of Dominica in the MSc Counselling Programme A plan for the establishment of an Advisory Board for the activities of the Training Department. This was to include an Administrative Committee to oversee the administrative activities of the programme and an Academic Committee that would be responsible for overseeing the academic aspects. A rationalisation of the role of the Training Co-ordinator to be in charge of the programme s academic affairs and the Programme Officer to take responsibility for the programme s administrative matters. Tutors workshop Five tutors attended the annual Tutors Workshop that was held from July 3 to 7, 2006. Recommendations made at this workshop are being applied to the delivery of the current programme. CURRENT AND PROJECTED ACTIVITIES 2005/2008 Delivery of the second cycle of the Masters in Counselling Programme by Distance Education in nine Caribbean countries (Antigua, Bahamas, 361
Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Trinidad). Contracting of two additional part-time tutors at Mona to a) have responsibility for the supervision of research projects for students from the first programme cycle in the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St. Vincent and Trinidad; b) to teach and conduct tutorials in the Professional Issues Course and c) to supervise the students in their practical. Editing and production of the course manuals for the following courses: OG61A Person-Centred Counselling; OG61B Personal Growth Groups; OG61C Professional Issues Part 1: Ethical and Legal Issues; OG61D: Existential Counselling; OG62C Quantitative Research Methods and OG62H: Qualitative Research Methods. Student Registration Table 1 shows the pattern of registration for the current programme cycle. A number of students were forced to withdraw from the programme for a variety of reasons. Some were not given the necessary day releases from their respective places of employment. Others failed the pre-qualifying courses. Still others withdrew for personal reasons such as the illness and death of close family members. Table 1 Profile of students who registered for the preliminary courses by gender Country # of OG60A OG60B OG60C OG60D With- Current /site students drawals enrolment M F M F M F M F M F M F M F Antigua 2 9 2 9 2 9 2 7 2 3 1 0 1 9 Bahamas 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 4 1 3 0 0 1 5 Barbados 4 4 1 4 4 4 4 2 4 3 2 2 2 2 Belize 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 1 0 4 BVI* 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 4 1 4 0 1 0 0 Dominica 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 2 Jamaica 2 12 2 9 2 11 2 3 2 8 2 2 0 10 St. Lucia 2 11 1 11 2 12 2 7 2 5 2 4 0 7 St. Vincent 4 4 2 4 4 3 3 4 4 2 1 1 3 3 Trinidad 0 10 0 7 0 9 0 5 0 5 0 2 0 8 The students in The BVI were not allowed to continue the programme as they did not satisfy the pre-qualifying requirements. The counselling programme tends to attract older women and men in the 30-55 age range who have to work full-time to support their families and who can only study part-time. Most of the students and part-time staff are highly resistant to attending classes on week-ends due to family and 362
religious commitments. Some part-time staff are also highly resistant to being asked to do more marking because of time constraints as they, too, have full time jobs. Online Registration A number of students encountered difficulty with their online registration. Much support was requested and provided by the Students Records Unit to assist students in this area. OUTREACH Coordinator Mrs. Joan Meade Project Coordination Co-ordinate second year of activities of the Promoting Healthy Life-Styles in Western Jamaica: HFLE HIV/AIDS Project Co-chairman of the Planning Committee for the Unit s Reproductive Health Conference scheduled for October 2006 Research Paper Presentation at the Caribbean Child Development Centre 2nd Annual Workshop on Children and HIV/AIDS February 2006 Views of Parents about Integrating HIV Positive Children in School Paper Presented at the UWISON International Nursing Midwifery Research Conference and Mary J Seivwright Day 40th Anniversary Celebrations June 2006 Views of Parents about Integrating HIV Positive Children into School Teaching Taught and examined Course SY21P: Reproductive Health and Family Life Education in the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work during Semester 1 for 71 undergraduate students Collaboration with External Agencies Participated in CARICOM Multi-agency HFLE Regional Working Group Meeting May 29-30, 2006 in Barbados Continued to attend Health and Family Life Education Coordinating Committee Meetings at the Ministry of Education and the National Family Planning Board 363
Attended Joint Board of Teacher Education (JBTE) meetings relating to the teaching of HIV and AIDS Education in Teachers Colleges Proposals Submitted a project proposal to CHASE Fund for the Promoting Healthy Life-Styles in Western Jamaica: HFLE HIV/AIDS Project. Fifty thousand Jamaican dollars (J$50,000) was obtained from the Rotary Club of Montego for the Promoting Healthy Life-Styles in Western Jamaica: HFLE HIV/AIDS Project Current & Planned Activities 2006-2007 Complete Year 3 of the Promoting Healthy Life-Styles in Western Jamaica: HFLE HIV/AIDS Project and conduct Impact Assessment Prepare and commence a HFLE Programme for the Staff and Residents of the Homestead Place of Safety, Stony Hill, in collaboration with the Lions Club of St. Andrew Central Prepare a Course in Reproductive Health and Health and Family Life Education for Multidisciplinary Groups in collaboration with the Training Section Continue research activities in collaboration with the Research Section Continue collaboration with External Agencies Projections 2007-2009 Expand the Promoting Healthy Life-Styles in Western Jamaica: HFLE HIV/AIDS Project Continue implementation of HFLE Programme for the Homestead Place of Safety in collaboration with the Lions Club of St. Andrew Central Finalize Programme in Reproductive Health and Health and Family Life Education for Multidisciplinary Groups in collaboration with the Training Section Continue research in collaboration with the Research Section 364
RESEARCH A risk perception survey for HIV/STI among male clients at the Casualty and Accident and Emergency departments, University Hospital of the West Indies was conducted in 2005. In collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Child Health, training of medical students in the use of the Partograph was conducted in 2006, funded by UNFPA. Measuring Family Planning Service Quality through Client Satisfaction Exit Interviews: Baseline Survey, 2006. A Methodology for Partograph Training, The annual Nursing Midwifery Conference, Department of Advanced Nursing Education, May 2006. Partograph Training and Monitoring at Four Hospitals, Perinatal Conference, University of the West Indies, 2006. Risk Perception for HIV/STI among males in Residential Unions, Annual CHRC Conference, St. Kitts, April, 2006. Union Differences in Perception for HIV/STI among Males accessing services at an urban hospital, ATRFMU Conference, October 2006 PUBLICATIONS Refereed * Hamilton, J. Jackson, A. Lee, Risk Perception for HIV/ STI among Antenatal Clients at the Antenatal Clinic, University Hospital of the West Indies. International Family Planning Perspectives * P. Hamilton, J Jackson, A. Lee, Risk Perception for HIV/ STI among Males in Residential Unions * J. Meade. Poster Presentation at UWI Annual Research Day January 2006 Promoting Healthy Life-Styles in Western Jamaica: HFLE HIV/AIDS Project CLINICAL Numbers of surgery done between the periods July 2005 June 2006 365
Diagnostic Laparoscopy 149 Diagnostic Hysteroscopy 213 Tubal Ligation 93 Vasectomy 7 Operative Laparoscopy 118 Operative Hysteroscopy 20 Laparotomy 10 Numbers of contraceptive distributed/administered Oral contraceptives Lofemenal Microgynon Ovidon 971 Depo provera injection 2,454 Insertion of Intra Uterine 91 contraceptive device Norplant insertion 76 Condoms 17,201 Clinical Training The Family Planning Clinic has facilitated the training of the following group of persons: Resident doctors 12 Medical Students 101 Pupil Midwives 26 Operating Theatre Nurses 12 Student Nurses 82 Anaesthetic students 30 Master of Science (Public Health) student 1 Staff Development On February 1, 2006, Dr. Loxley Christie was employed to the unit as a Research Fellow and Rochelle Foster as a Junior Research Fellow. On January 24, 2006 the first meeting of the Fertility Management Unit Clinical Research was held. The main aim and objective of this group is to foster an ongoing clinical research culture in the unit and promote the constant publishing of papers. 366
IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION LABORATORY (IVF) PROCEDURES CYCLES PREGNANCIES IVF 39/35 9 ICSI 46/44 17 IUI 39 4 FET 12 4 EMBRYO FREEZING 14 SEMEN ANALYSIS 181 We commenced Assisted Hatching in November 2005 and had our first pregnancy in January 2006. Our first pregnancy resulting from donor sperm also occurred in January 2006. PUBLIC SERVICE Pansy Hamilton Vice President, Jamaica Association of Health Service Executives (Education) Vice President, Young Women s Christian Association of Jamaica Member, Board of Directors Whole Person Resource Centre Member, Population Association of America Member, American Studies Association of Jamaica Member, Planning Committee for the Annual Nurses and Midwives Research Conference Member, Committee for the Annual Emancipation Lecture Amy Lee Family Counsellor, Barbican Baptist Church Member, Jamaica Association of Health Service Executives Jean Jackson Member, Stewardship Committee of St. Thomas Aquinas Centre Professor Joseph Frederick 367
Member, Caribbean Initiatives of Planning Committee of Planned Parenthood Member, Pacesetters Toastmasters Club 368